Gong construction and mounting



H Y l. 6 G f WH. E M 0 v5 n 6P. Il WMV/4 2 0. a E 2? a 2,1 0 Y 0 fw@ M M July 28, 1953 G. R. Flsl-l I GoNG CONSTRUCTION AND MOUNTING Filed March 20, 1951 Patented July 28, 1951? GONG CONSTRUCTION AND MOUNTDIG George R. Fish, Norwalk, Conn., assignor to Edwards Company, Inc., Norwalk, Conn.; a corporation of New York Application March 20, 1951, Serial No. 216,562

, y 1 Y 1 This invention relates to the construction and mounting of gongs, particularly gongs of the type that are employed in so-called electric bells.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a durable and practical gong construction and mounting that will be of long-lasting action in resisting the mechanical effects of being repeatedly impacted by the striker which is usually reciprocated at a relatively high rate to cause 'repeated striking of the gong to set it into sound-emitting vibration. Another object is to provide a gong construction and mounting of the above-mentioned type, particularly smalldiametered gongs,\in which severe or powerful blows by the striker are prevented from causing rupture of the metal of the gong at its point or place of support and to make such provision in a manner to achieve long life of the mecha- Anism as a whole and of the gong itself as an im- .portant part of the sound-producing apparatus. Another object is to provide a construction of the above-mentioned character in which many disadvantages and shortcomings of gong .constructions and mountings as heretofore practiced can be overcome in a dependable, inexpensive, and thoroughly practical manner. Another object is to carry out such objects as the foregoing in a manner that will not detrimentally yaffect the desired or inherent tonal quality of the gong. Another object is to provide a construction of the above-mentioned character in which 'oneor more of the foregoing objects is achievable 'in a manner by which tonal quality of the gong is improved. y n

4.Another object is, in general, to provide a bell -construction of the above-mentioned type in which, by certain features of gong construction andk mounting, new and improved coactions between striking mechanism, gong,. .and gong .features of construction, combinations of 'ele'- ments, and arrangements of parts as `-vv'ill be 'exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts vthroughout the several views and in which I have shown illustratively several of the possiblek embodiments of my invention- 2o claims. (C1. 116-1572) Figure l is a plan viewof a gong construction and mounting and gong striking mechanism therefor, the latter being indicated diagrammatically;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale as seen along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, certain parts being broken away or omitted; d

Figure 3 is a plan view like that of Figure l, showing a modification of the invention, and

Figure li is a similar plan View showing an-Y other modication.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of this invention, it might at this point be noted that many difficulties and shortcomings are met with, according to heretofore known practices, when gongs, particurlarly gongs of smaller diameter, on the order of 11/2 to 3, are mounted to be subjected to repeated impacts by a striker or clapper mechanism, usually one electromagnetically actuated. For example, attempts to mount or support the gong resiliently, as by rubber or other yieldable Awashers or cushions, are met with lack of durability, deterioration of the .rubber or other like material, physical displacement of the gong vrelative to its striker, short life, misalignment .between gong and striker, and impairment of tonal quality, and others.v Other expedients have included the u-se of spring metal parts associated with the support of the gong, such as spring washers, with the intent that the gong, relatively rigid because of itsfshape and metallic struc- `washers .rapidlylose their intended action or break, and the life of the mounting is greatly shortened. Misalignment between gong and striker andV also impairment of tonal quality re- ;sult. A rigid fastening of the gong .to its supportingpost also has disadvantages in that, particularly in small-diametered gongs, gong frac'- .ture or distortion occurs and also a rigid mechanical system results, so that the blows of the lclapper or striker are transmitted through the supporting post or pillar to the base and other parts of the striker mechanism and loud hammering noises result rather than the emission of a clear or reasonably pure note or tone of the desired pitch. One of the dominant aims of this invention is to avoid or overcome such deficiencies, defects, and disadvantages in an eiicient, practical, and economical manner and by coacting structural features that will give to the apparatus good durability and long life.

Referring first to Figure 1, I have diagrammatically indicated at IS a base or support of any suitable construction having secured thereto and upstanding therefrom a rigid stud or post I I, usually of metal. and presen-ting an upperV end face I2 (see Figure 2) at which the gong G1 is to be secured. In the embodiment selected for illustration, the gong G1 is round or circular in' conguration, as seen in Figure 1, and,I as, isl better indicated in Figure 2, is in general concavo-convex, having a central', substantially flat' or slightly curved portion I3 which, by' way` of an intermediate curved portion I4, merges into a skirt-like peripheral portion t5. Tha gong G1 may be of any suitable metal or alloy and in smaller sizes is usually stamped to shape out of a suitable piece oi sheet metal.

Gong G1 isset into sound-producing vibration byv any suitable clapper or striker mechanism, which is d-iagrammatically indicated: at It11, and usually and illustratively takes the form of? an electromagnetically-actuated' mechanism. Illustratively, it may be ofthe solenoid type, having' a striker diagrammatically indicated at I8' which is impacted against the side portion I of the gong by a reciprocable plunger'v (not shown) of magnetic material. Where substantial loudness or volume of sound is to be produced, the impact of the striker takes place under substantial force, particularly in the solenoid type of bell constructi'on, and where the striker is rapidly reciprocated, often-times at a frequency of ordinary power or lighting circuits, such as 60 cycles per second, the gong is subjected to rapidly repeated high power' impacts, the energy'r of which is intended to be dissipated in setting the gong into Vibration and in producing sound waves; rei actions internally of the gong, or like sounding device, and reactions at the support or anchorage thereof can be quite severe, therefore, and they are accentuated where circumstances require smallness of structure and also substantial volume of produced sound'.

In the illustrative embodiment of Figure 1, I provide a. number of elongated arms, illustratively four in number and indicated at 2 If, 22, 23 and 24, extending in a general radial direction from a i central aperture 2l)v in the gong towardy the curved portion I4 which merges into the peripheral portion I5; they may extend more orl less into the curved portion I4, and they are preferably of tapering width or` diminishing cross-section in ay radial outward direction, as is better shown in Figure 1. Conveniently, they are formed by Vstamping or punching angular and curved apertures in the metal of the gong, as shown at in Figure l, and the apertures arev four in number where it is desired that there be four arms. The apertures are relatively long compared to their width, and while preferably symmetrical about a central axis that coincides wtih a radius, the portions to either side of the just-mentioned axis, in effect, make an obtuse angle with each other.

vIn Figure 1, the supporting post is indicated in broken lines at I'I', and preferably the slot-like apertures 25, while equidistantly spaced from the central axis of the gong G1, which coincides with the axis of the post II as later described, fall short' of intersecting the outline of the supporting post II, as viewed in plan in- Figure 1; as shown,

vthe innermost portions of the apertures 25 arel spaced a short radial distance away from that area of the central portion I3 of the gong which directly overlies the post I I.

That arrangement leaves a central area of the gong greater than the area of the end face I2 of the post II to overlie the latter when the gong is secured to the post II, and I am thereby enabled to achieve. substantially uniform clamping pressure. It may be tightly secured to the post, preferably as by a clamping screw 26 (Figure 2) that passes through the central hole 20 in the gong and. is threaded into a central hole in the post I I. A lock washer 2'I is also preferably employedf.

If the-central poriton of the gong overlying the post face I2 is at, the face I2 is likewise made dat so, that their adjacent faces are parallel; usually, however, there is a slight departure from flatness in the central part of the gong G1, and this may be somewhat frusto-conical or slightly curved, frequently making. a very small angle of 22 degrees or so with the central axis of the gong, and inv such case the. upper face I2 of post Il is turned or otherwise shaped to bring it into parallelism with the. contiguous under face of the gong. Preferably I interpose between these two parts a non-metallic'` member 28', preferably of. uniform thickness, on the order of 1/64?" or sie, for example; it is preferably hard enough to be. substantially unyielding under small or average pressures and yet is not too hard. A convenient material to employ is sheet material of so-called liber or hard ber, usually compounded out of fibrous materials and a cured or hardened -bonding material, or itmay be of sof-called hard. rubber. It is preferably shaped to conform to the top face I2 of the post II, and where the latter is round, it may be in the form of a stamped washer. When the clamping' screw 26A is tightened up, the member 23Y is placed under compression, it probably yields somewhat to inaccuracies or departures in parallelism between the post face I2 and the adjacentv under face of the gong G1, and thus it contributes toward achieving good: distribution of clamping pressure throughout the faces of the parts betweenwhich it-v is clamped. It coacts also with the lock washer 2T, which may be of any suitable form, in reacting against the screw and maintaining it under tension crr tightness so that it will not loosen up.

It is preferred, in assembling the gong G1 to the striker mechanism, to set the gong scthat the point or line of impact of the striker I8 falls on a line that substantially bisects the angle between two of the above-mentioned arms in the gong, illustratively arms 23 and 24, as seen in Figure 1. To aid in so positioning the gong, the supporting post II is provided with an upstanding pin 30 (Figures 1 and 2) projecting upwardly from the supporting face I2 and through a suitable hole or slot in the member 28, and the gong is provided with a hole 3| into which the upper end of pin 30 enters, the pin 3B and hole 3l being so located that the above-described relationship of gong arms and striker is achieved. Moreover, the pin and hole prevent assembly of the gong in other than that relationship. As shown in Figure 2, pin 30 and hole 3| are preferably located close to the screw 26, the head of which preferably overhangs the hole 3I to prevent loss of the pin 30.

As better appears in Figure 1, the area throughout which the gong G1 is supported or secured tightly in position, is substantially that of the area. of the face i2 of the post II, indicated in broken lines in Figure l; beyond the perimeter oi' that area of support (a circle, in Figure 1) the gong laterally, and in all radial directions, projects or radiates outwardly and downwardly (see also Figure 2); the Varms 2l, '22, 23, and 24 are in effect cantilever members radiating outwardly from the central circular area of anchorage or support, and they carry the load and react to the gong vibrations and to the peripherally imposed impacts of the gong, all at their outer ends beyond which the curved and peripheral portions I4 and I5 of the gong are the effective soundproducing portions of the gong structure. These arms can and do, individually and collectively, yield or ex under the imposed strains and stresses in the eifective sound-producing portion of the gong structure and, vbecause of their resiliency or yieldability, as just described, they nega- 'tive or greatly lessen damping action which the rigid mounting of the gong at its central area of support would otherwise have on the sound-producting action of the curved and peripheral portions of the gong. They also materially relieve the setting up of strains in that central portion of the gong that immediately overlies the circular periphery of the supporting post face I2 which, in prior constructions, acts in effect as a 'fulcrum at whichstraining of the metal of the gong is in effect concentrated with resultant crystallization or other change in the metal of the gong overlying the fulcrum, resulting in fracture or such distortion as to destroy the support and mounting of the gong. The benecial action of the arms just described is accentuated, moreo-ver, by the action of the relatively hard, interposed non-metallic member 28 which tends to distribute to the central anchored or clamped gong portion transmission of severe or detrimental strains to the inner ends of the arms is lessened. The described action of the cantilever arms also appears 'to coact to maintain security of fastening, as by 'the screw 26, of the gong to its support; apparently the exing of the arms materially -protects or insulates the gong fastening from stresses tending to loosen it up. Moreover, I have found that, by' such'construction and action just described, I am enabled to maintain high 'tonal quality or ring of the gong, particularly in the small-diametered sizes of gongs above mentioned, and thus eliminate detrimental mechanical hamkmering noises earlier above mentioned. Furthermore, I have found that volume or loudness is not impaired.

I have found it desirable to proportion the width of the arms as viewed in Figure 1, assuming substantial uniformity of thickness of metal in the gong, in relation to the centrally secured or anchored portion or area of the gong; roughly,

periphery of the supporting face I2,being the cross-section along the broken-line circle II in Figure l.

The features of my invention may be carried out and its major advantages achieved in other forms or configurations or number of cantilever arms in the gong structure, and, by way of illusJ tration, two of such other possible embodiments are shown in Figures 3 and 4, Figure 2 showing these constructions cross-sectionally along the line 2--2 of Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 3 the gong GZ is provided With three cantilever arms 33, 34, and 35 which can conveniently be formed by stamping or cutting out suitably curved portions of the metal of the gong to provide curved apertures 36 shaped and equidistantly and equianguf larly spaced about the central axis of the gong. The cantilever arms in Figure 3 are of diminishing width or cross-section in radially outward direction thereof, and the sum of their transverse cross-sections, where the latter are smallest, may approximate or be equal to the cross-section of metal of the central portion of the gong where it immediately overlies the perimeter of the supporting face I2 of the post Il. The actions and coactions in the modication of Figure 3 will be clear in view of the foregoing description of Figures l and 2.

While in the embodiments-of Figures 1 and 2 the cantilever supporting arms formed integrally as part of the gong structure extend radially outward from the center of the illustrative circular gong, according to my invention cantilever supporting arms may be provided of different configuration and different directional extent in their relationship between the central anchored or secured gong portion and the curved and peripheral eiective sound-producing portions of the gong, and an illustrative embodiment of this form of modifiication is shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4 the gong G3 has its relatively flat central Iportion I3 connected to the outer curved and peripheral portions I4, I5 by arms which extend at an angle to an intersecting radius and which, moreover, may be individually angular or curved so as to be of greater eiective length than the shortest or straight-line distance between the ends at which are their junctions with the central and outer portions of the gong, and, if desired, and as illustrated in Figure 4, the arms may also be grouped in pairs, for example. In Figure 4 two pairs of arms 38, 39 and 4U, 4I extend from diametrically opposite regions of the central anchored portion I3 to the outer curved and peripheral gong portions I4, I5 at points or regions in the latter also substantially diametrically opposed, but on a diameter angularly displaced,

illustratively, degrees, from the diameter along which are their junctions tothe central portion I3. These relationships may be readily achieved by cutting out, as in a punch-press operation, appropriate lpairs of apertures 42, 43 and 44, 45. These apertures may be given suitable curvatures or other coniigurations so that the desired curvatures or angularities of individual arms are achieved.

In the illustrative embodiment of Figure 4, these curvatures and configurations are such that each arm 38, 39, etc., has a substantially radially extending portion at each of its ends With an intermediate portion that is curved along an arc the center of which is the center of the circular gong. In this manner, also, a greater over-all length is achieved for each arm than the shortest or straight-line distance between the extreme vends or junction points of each. In this manner or torsional straining of individual arms achieved to enhance, where desired, the flexibility or yieldability of the arms earlier above described. AecordinglyJv torsional strains or twisting action of the at metal of the arms about the longitudinal axis of the latter can be made to coact in achieving such advantages as those earlier above described.

Preferably the regions oi junction of the arms at their ends are of substantial extent and in sum of cross-sectional metal they may equal or approximate the cross-section of metal in the central portion of the gong immediately overlying ithe perimeter of the clamping face l2 of the post il.

Orientation of the cantilever arms relative to the point of impact of the striker element i8 is not critical from the viewpoint of tonal quality or ring of the gong, and as I now understand my invention, I attribute this factor to the resillent or liexing action of the cantilever arms, in the above-described illustrative embodiments, whereby the above-described hammering noises are substantially eliminated and the rigid anchorage or mounting of the gong thereby substantially insulated from the transmission to it, and to the base i9 and other parts oi the complete bell construction, of noise-producing reactions from the impacts of the striker against the skirt portion of the gong. tion, as by the pin and gong hole 3l, may be advantageous from a mechanical viewpoint for purposes of achieving symmetry ci reaction of the gong to a striker blow and better distribution throughout the several cantilever arms of the reactive eiects of the striker blow, as is illustrated by the orientations illustrated in Figures 1, 3, and 4. Where the going structure embodies two cantilever arms which are eflective along radii falling in a diameter of the gong, it is desirable that the striker impact the gong at a point coincident with that diameter, as is illustratively indicated in Figure 4; for these mechanical purposes, one mightconsider the pair of arms 38-33 as in eiect a single arm along a vertical radius, and a pair of arms llt- M as in eiect. a single arm effective along the lower radius, both radii falling on the vertical diameter as viewed in Figure 4, and in such case it is preferred that the striker impact the gong along the line of that diameter.

It is usually desirable. to provide a suitable means for effecting relative adjustment between the striker mechanism and the gong along a line substantially coincident with the line or axis along which the striker i8 moves toward and i away from the gong in order that, in relation to the. power stroke of the striker (that is the impact stroke), contact between the striker and the gong occurs at a point in the striker stroke that will give the best sound-producing vibration of the gong. Such a means for such adjustment may take any suitable form, illustratively, by mounting the striker mechanism l1 on the base plate or support I6, as by slotted ears and screws indicated at I9, so that the striker mechanism I1 may be adjustably positioned along the axis of movement of the striker I8.

Such adjustment is made after the gong is secured to its post ll and oriented by the pin 30 and gong hole 3l above described; pin 3i! and hole 3| ycoact to maintain this setting or adjustment during the subsequent operation and use of the bell. Gongs are not always of uniform thickness or truly round, or the aperture 2D in the gong may be a bit ofi center; because of such However, orienta- .Lil

factors as these, the initial adjustment and best ringing action of the gong might be impaired were the gong to partake of rotary movement during operation, and the pin 36 and hole 3l prevent -such rotary displacement. Also, were anyone to remove the gong and then p-ut it back, pin 30 and hole 3l insure that the gong is restored with the above optimum adjustment not impaired.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention a complete signalling bell construction and a gong structure and mounting in which the various objects heretofore set forth, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are. successfully achieved. As earlier noted above, the striking impacts can be of substantial magnitude, particularly where the striker is solenoid-actuated, and, particularly in smalldiametered sounding or gong elements there have been presented many disadvantages and difculties in attempting to achieve a mechanically strong and durable construction without impairment of tonal quality or volume of emitted musical note. The invention overcomes these disadvantages and difficulties in a thoroughly practical way and by features of construction which facilitate manufacture and which achieve dependable action and long life` As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A signalling construction comprising a gong having a peripheral skirt-like portion adapted to be set into vibration upon being struck and a central securing portion made integrally with said skirt-like portion by an intermediate gong portion, a rigid support for said gong having a supporting face and having means relatively rigidly securing said central portion thereto, striking means for striking said gong at said peripheral portion, and means for substantially reducing the transmission of detrimental strains and stresses from the vibrating skirt-like portion Vto said central portion and said securing means therefor comprising a plurality of yielding cantilever arms integrally formed with said intermediate portion and extending in general radial directions from said central portion to said peripheral skirt-like portion, said intermediate portion having cut-outs intervening adjacent cantilever arms.

. 2. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the sum of the widths of said cantilever arms is substantially equal to the length of the periphery of said supporting face of said rigid support.

3. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said central portion is of an area substantially equal to the area of said supporting face and the junctions therewith of the inner ends of said cantilever arms fall in a region adjacent the periphery of said supporting face of said rigid support.

4. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said supporting face and the contiguous face of said central portion are substantially parallel to each other for continuity of supporting engagement therebetween and said securing means comprises means for rigidly clamping said central portion to said rigid support with said faces in tight engagement 5. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said supporting face and the contiguous face of said central portion are substantially parallel to each other and have interposed between them a relatively hard washer, said securing means comprising means for securing said central portion to said rigid support under substantial force to subject said relatively hard interposed washer to pressure to yield suciently to conform itself to possible irregularities in either of said faces.

6. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said cantilever arms are of lesser cross-section adjacent their junctions to said vibrating peripheral gong portion than at their junctions to said central portion whereby each has greater ease of ilexibility adjacent its outer end than adjacent its inner end.

7. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said cantilever arms are three or more in number and the point at which said striker means impacts said peripheral gong portion falls within the angle between two of said arms,

8. A signallingconstruction as claimed in claim 1 in which said cantilever arms have effective opposite radial extents to fall substantially along a diameter of said gong and said striker means impacts said peripheral portion at a point substantially in line with said diameter.

9. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the cut-outs between successive cantilever arms are angular with the apex of the angle toward said central gong portion, each cut-out having a Width that is relatively small compared to its length.

10. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the cut-outs between successive cantilever arms are of a length relatively large compared to the width and are curved.

11. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said cut-outs in said intermediate portion are individually angular and said cantilever arms thereby have individually an angular shape and each thereby has a length greater than the shortest distance between its junctions to said central portion and said peripheral portion.

12. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said securing means includes means for preventing rotational displacement of said gong about the axis of said support to maintain the desired orientation of the point at which said striker means impacts said peripheral portion relative to the effective radial extents of said cantilever arms.

13. A signalling construction comprising a gong having an outer peripheral skirt-like portion adapted to vibrate upon being struck and an inner part adapted to be tightly secured to a support, said part being joined to said vibratable gong portion by a plurality of elongated relatively yieldable arms whereby said arms individually yield and accommodate themselves to the stresses and distortion set up during sound-producing vibration of said peripheral portion and thereby 10 substantially relieve said part of detrimental stresses or strains.

14. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 13 in which said elongated arms have longitudinal axes substantially coincident with radii leading outwardly from said part.

l5. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 13 in which said arms extend outwardly from said part to join said peripheral portion at angularities to radii emanating from said part outwardly toward said peripheral portion.

16. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 13 in which said arms are individually of angular shape and thereby of greater length than the shortest distance between said part and said peripheral gong portion.

17. A signalling construction comprising a substantially concave-convex gong having a peripheral portion adapted to be struck and thereby to be set into Vibration and a central portion presenting a substantial area for engagement with and anchorage to a support, said central portion being integrally joined with said peripheral portion by an intermediate annular gong portion that has a plurality of cutouts therein which divide it into a plurality of elongated cantilever arms emanating and bridging from said central portion to said peripheral portion to suspend the latter from the outer ends of said arms whereby said arms individually yield and accommodate themselves to the stresses and distortions set up during sound-producing vibration of said peripheral portion and thereby substantially relieve said central portion from detrimental stresses or strains.

18. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 17 in which said cutouts are individually of angular shape with the apex of the angle toward said central gong portion, said cutouts being substantially uniformly distributed about the axis of said concavo-convex gong.

19. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 17 in which said cutouts are individually curved with the axis of curvature of each on that side of the cutout remote from said central portion, said cutouts being substantially uniformly distributed about the axis of said concaVo-convex gong.

20. A signalling construction as claimed in claim 17 in which said cantilever arms are individually of angular shape and thereby each is of greater length than the shortest distance between its junctions to said central gong portion and said peripheral gong portion,

GEORGE R. FISH.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 581,780 Shaaber May 4, 1897 867,123 Gowin Sept. 24, 1907 870,025 Elsos Nov. 5, 1907 1,486,081 Fischer Mar. 4, 1924 2,443,559 Garceau June 15, 1948 2,476,055 Magdelain July 12, 1949 

